Amazon media streaming device coming early April

Amazon will launch its own video streaming set-top box next month, according to recent reports.

Rumours of such an Amazon box, which would rival the Apple TV, Roku, and other media streaming devices, have been circulating for some time now. It was initially expected to launch by Christmas 2013, but then hit delays.

Now, according to The Wall Street Journal’s sources, we’ll see the results of Amazon’s labours in early April 2014. The Amazon box will sell through the Amazon website (naturally) as well as key physical retailers.

As for the content this Amazon set-top box will be pumping out, expect to see a number of the same key apps that are available on the aforementioned rival devices, including the likes of Netflix. These of course will be in addition to Amazon’s Prime Instant Video streaming service, which launched in the UK recently.

Helping with this app-heavy interface, the device will apparently run on a version of Google’s Android OS, which is more commonly associated with smartphones and tablets.

Other reports suggest that the Amazon box won’t be a box at all. Rather, it could be a plug-in dongle like Google’s own Chromecast.

There’s no information on pricing just yet, but expect to see certain price incentives offered to Prime members.

Amazon is said to be looking to expand its media offering with the likes of a music streaming service. The online giant is said to be in talks with music labels to make such a Spotify-like service happen.

In addition to the original video content it’s now producing and the likelihood of an imminent set-top box launch, it all adds up to a major play for our living room time from Amazon.